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Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced yesterday (May 12) an extension to the furlough scheme under which the Government subsidises the wages of workers temporarily laid off due to the coronavirus.

The scheme which pays 80 per cent of the salary of people unable to work, will be extended to the end of October, with the scheme running as is until August with 'greater flexibility' from August to October.

The Government is also asking people to wear face masks/coverings in enclosed spaces where they can't socially distance.

We will be bringing you the latest updates in our live blog below.

Got something to tell us? Comment below or you can tweet us @CheshireLive or message us on our Facebook page here.

Viewing houses

Recession concern

Britain is very sharply moving into recession due to the coronavirus crisis, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said.

Mr Bailey’s comments echoed those of Chancellor Rishi Sunak after new economic figures showed the economy shrank by 5.8% in March and 2% in the first quarter of the year as a whole.

Asked about the data, the bank’s governor told ITV’s Peston: “Well, I think it tends to confirm that we’ve got a very sharp move into recession and it was quite sudden, which is obviously what we’ve all observed from the shutting down of the economy so, to be frank, we’re not really surprised by that number at all.”

20:06

'Don't ignore' blind people

Blind people fear they could be “ignored” in Government plans to revamp transport use in England after the coronavirus lockdown, a leading sight loss charity has said.

The proposals, which include the introduction of pop-up bike lanes, wider pavements and cycle and bus-only streets, could make it dangerous for people with sight loss to travel safely, according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Councils in England have been told to reallocate road space for significantly increased numbers of cyclists and pedestrians so people can stay two metres apart, under plans announced on Saturday by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

Sarah Lambert, head of social change at the RNIB, said:

“It’s essential that short-sighted people are not ignored in these plans, and there is that concern at the moment. Councils need to make sure it’s safe for them to navigate the paths safely.

“For pop-up bike lanes, the new layout needs to ensure detectable curbs are in place between cycleways and the pavement, so people with sight-loss know when the pavement ends.

“It’s also important that new cycle lanes do not cross pavements or prevent access to bus stops without safe, accessible crossings.

“On widening the pavement, actual physical changes need to be made so it’s clear for short-sighted people to know where they can walk.

“It would be a good idea to put up cones in the road beyond the kerb so they know where to walk.”

18:57

Teaching comfort

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said ministers were working with schools and trade unions to “provide as much comfort” as possible to teachers that it would be safe to return to work.

Some pupils are expected to return to school by June, under the Government’s current timetable.

Asked about whether teachers would be allowed to stay home if they felt unsafe returning to work, Mr Jenrick said:

“The Education Secretary (Gavin Williamson) is working very closely with the trade unions, with teaching professionals, to make sure they are comfortable and have sufficient guidance to return to the workplace.

“Many teachers have been working, of course, in those schools that have remained open, ensuring that the children of key workers and vulnerable children are given schooling during the lockdown measures, and we are very grateful to those teachers for doing that.

“But we are going to keep on working with the trade unions to provide as much comfort as we possibly can with a view to getting schools open as quickly as possible and to the timetable the Prime Minister set out at the weekend.”

17:37

Test figures

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the daily Downing Street briefing that 87,063 coronavirus tests were carried out on Tuesday - far short of the 100,000 daily target.

Mr Jenrick defended the Government’s policies to restart the housing market in England.

“People have asked why would they be able to look around a stranger’s home but not visit their parents or loved ones at home?

“I understand why this may seem confusing at first glance, especially when people have been separated from their loved ones for so long.”

He said there was a “clear plan to ensure the safety of everybody involved in the property” with stringent hygiene guidance.

16:40

'Coronavirus cyber-attack'

Two companies involved in building emergency hospitals for the coronavirus outbreak have been hit by cyber-attacks.

Outsourcing giant Interserve, which recently supported the NHS in building Birmingham’s Nightingale Hospital, confirmed it had been the target of an attack earlier this month.

Construction firm BAM Construct UK has now also confirmed it has been the subject of a “significant cyber-attack”.

15:43KEY EVENT

Cheshire hospital deaths near 500

PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - MAY 05: An ambulance crew from the South Central Ambulance Service wear protective clothing as they complete the digital paperwork after responding to a false alarm call for a heart attack on May 05, 2020 in Portsmouth, England. Due to the risk of contamination to the air ambulance helicopters, patients have been transferred to the mainland using the hovercraft service since the beginning of May. As the list of recognised Covid-19 symptoms grows, paramedic crews like those with the South Central Ambulance Service are forced to treat every patient as being a potential case, often requiring specialised personal protective equipment (PPE). Paramedics now routinely don what the NHS refers to as Level 2 PPE, like face masks and disposable aprons. Cases with patients potentially needing airway procedures require Level 3 PPE, such as full-face visors and long-sleeved surgical gowns. While the infection rate is falling, and government officials are discussing ways to relax the country's quarantine measures, Covid-19 still creates everyday risks for paramedics and other first responders. (Photo by Leon Neal - Pool/Getty Images)

The number of patients who have died in Cheshire hospitals from coronavirus is just under 500 as nine more die in 24 hours.

The latest figures from NHS England show that there have now been 496 hospital deaths in our county.

Introduction of 'Speedy Shopper' lanes at Morrisons

Morrisons has launched a new rule for shoppers queueing outside of its supermarkets, which should cut down waiting times massively.

As of today, a new system has been put in place across all Morrisons stores called ‘Speedy Shoppers’ - great for those buying for smaller households.

Since not all customers take the same amount of time to shop around, the supermarket chain has now started letting three people using baskets into a store - ‘Speedy Shoppers’- for every one person using a trolley - ‘Big Shop’.

Stagecoach advice for travel today

Bus company Stagecoach are advising passengers to continue to adhere to social-distancing rules as more people are expected to travel today amid the new lifting of restrictions.

08:06KEY EVENT

UK economy shrinks at fastest rate since height of financial crisis

The UK economy shrank by 2% in the first quarter of 2020 as the coronavirus crisis saw activity contract at a record pace in March, official figures have shown.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said activity plunged 5.8% in March, sending first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) tumbling in the biggest fall since the end of 2008 at the height of the financial crisis.

The latest figures show the first direct effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the UK economy after the country was placed in lockdown to control the spread of the virus.

But with the lockdown only coming into place on March 23, the second quarter will show the full hit on the economy after the UK ground to a standstill.

Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician for economic statistics at the ONS, said: “With the arrival of the pandemic, nearly every aspect of the economy was hit in March, dragging growth to a record monthly fall.

“Services and construction saw record declines on the month with education, car sales and restaurants all falling substantially.”

He added: “The pandemic also hit trade globally, with UK imports and exports falling over the last couple of months, including a notable drop in imports from China.”

07:50Gemma Sherlock

Nearly 300 deaths in care homes in Cheshire

In the week ending May 8, 66 deaths involving coronavirus in care homes in Cheshire were reported to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

What lockdown rules have been lifted?

Exercise and sport - people in England will now be able to exercise more than once a day and with one person who is not from their household, so long as social distancing requirements are still met.

Travel - Driving to outdoor open spaces, either alone or with members of your household is allowed, as well as travelling to beaches or beauty spots in England.

Recreation - Going for a picnic, sunbathing and relaxing in a public place is now allowed in England, while people can also fishing on their own, or with one other person while adhering to social distancing rules.

Property viewings

Property viewings and visits to estate agents may be seen as a reasonable excuse for leaving the house, under regulations coming into force in England from Wednesday which could help to reinvigorate the market.

Property professionals welcomed the moves, saying they could help to release some of the pent-up demand in the market - with around £82 billion of transactions on hold.

Under previous rules to help limit the spread of Covid-19, moving house where it was reasonably necessary was already deemed a valid excuse for people to be away from home.

But under amendments to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) regulations in England, a reasonable excuse will now be expanded to include undertaking several activities in connection with the purchase, sale, letting or rental of a residential property.

National park warning

England’s national parks have urged caution for visitors planning to return to beauty spots from Wednesday - with some still telling people to stay away.

Updated Government rules on the coronavirus pandemic have relaxed the “stay local” message so people can drive to outdoor open spaces “irrespective of distance”, as long as they respect social distancing guidance.

But in the wake of the new situation - which only applies to England - national parks are warning people to respect local communities, keep their distance from others and avoid hotspots or busy areas.

Visitors are also being warned that many facilities such as car parks, visitor centres and public toilets, as well as cafes and pubs, are not yet open.

19:06

'I won't give up'

18:30

'Excess deaths'

Thousands of excess deaths recorded during the coronavirus crisis could be “collateral damage” caused by the indirect effects of the pandemic, a statistician has suggested.

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, chairman of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication, University of Cambridge, said that some 6,000 deaths had been “exported” to the community due to the reduction of hospital services.

Data published on Tuesday found that the number of deaths in England and Wales has exceeded normal levels by nearly 47,000 during the pandemic.

17:29

'Work with unions'

Business Secretary Alok Sharma urged bosses to work with employees and unions to develop safe ways of reopening following the lockdown.

At the daily Downing Street briefing, he said he was struck by “the way people have looked out for each other” during the pandemic and the safety guidance issued by his department and the extension to the furlough scheme announced by the Chancellor were in keeping with that public spirit.

He said:

“To employers I say: use this support and guidance to know you are doing the right thing and work with your unions and workers to keep each other safe.

“To workers I say: we are looking out for you, we want you to feel confident that you are financially supported and returning to a safe workplace.

“Because in this time, like no other, we all need to work together safely as we rebuild our economy.”